Lesson 7: The Church in the World

► How should the church be involved in society?

Jeremiah wrote to Jews in captivity telling them what their relationship should be with the pagan society they were in. These Jews were there against their will; the religion of the society was pagan; the government was oppressive and had destroyed their nation; and they were waiting for the day when they could leave. Maybe they thought they should not get involved in the problems of that society.

Listen to the message God gave the prophet for these people:

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jeremiah 29:7).

[1]The word translated here as “welfare” is usually translated as peace. It refers not only to peace itself, but the blessings that accompany peace. It refers to the blessings of God. These worshippers of God in a pagan country would find God’s blessings as they tried to bring those blessings to the people of a heathen society!

The problems of the world come from the root problem of sin. Individuals and organized powers do not respect God’s Word. The church is uniquely qualified to speak to the world’s problems because the church can explain the Word of God and demonstrate the wisdom of God. The church should not only speak against the sins of society but should explain and demonstrate what society should be like.

► What are the signs of success for a church?

With a worldly concept of success, a person might think a church is successful if it has a large attendance, a large budget, and a great building.

Christians know that those things do not mean success in God’s eyes, but we are too often impressed by those things. We usually think a pastor is successful if he has such a church.

A more important measurement of success is the number of real conversions that happen because of the ministry of the church. The spiritual growth of the believers is also very important, but difficult to measure. An important demonstration of the church’s success is the change it makes in its neighborhood.

► What do you think of this statement?

The success of a local church should be directly tied to the degree that it holistically transforms its immediate neighborhood. Any other success factor is secondary.[1]

The gospel makes an impact far beyond those who are converted. Each person who is converted and begins to live by Christian principles influences others. Jesus said that his followers are the salt and light of the earth.

Christian principles are the foundation of freedom and justice, and are the basis of reforming society. If a church is influencing people to follow Christian principles, the society will be influenced to establish freedom and justice.

This applies to a local community. If people in the neighborhood are being saved, there should be changes in the neighborhood.

► What changes would happen in your neighborhood if many people were influenced to follow Christian principles?

What would it mean for the neighborhood to be influenced by the ministry of the church? There would be a reduction in crime, child abuse and neglect, immoral behavior, violence, racial discrimination, illegal businesses, exploitive businesses, and vandalism. Renters would be more faithful. Landlords would provide safe houses. More people would be able to own their homes. Businessmen would be willing to develop employees. Employees would have better character for work.

The spiritual impact of the church is the first priority, but if the spiritual impact is real, it will be demonstrated in visible changes in the neighborhood.

► What did Jesus say is the second greatest commandment?

► A student should read Luke 10:25-29 for the group.

A lawyer asked Jesus how to have eternal life. Jesus asked, “What does the law say?” Answering, the man combined the two greatest commandments. He said you should love God with all that you are and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27). Jesus said his answer was right, and said, “Do this, and you will live.” A person who has that love has eternal life.

The man then asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He did not think he had to love everyone. He wanted to find a narrow category of people that he must love, so he could feel that he was fulfilling the requirement. Jesus answered this question with a story.

► What story did Jesus tell as an example of loving your neighbor?

► A student should read Luke 10:30-37 for the group.

Jesus told the story of the Samaritan as an example of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Love motivates us to respond to a person with a need.

Jesus stated his mission in Luke 4:18-19:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

This statement answers the question, “Why did Jesus come?” Jesus said this is what he was anointed to do. It was the purpose predicted of him in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ mission gives direction to the church, the “body of Christ” in the world. The first thing Jesus said he was to do was preach the good news to the poor. The church is not fulfilling its mission if it neglects or excludes the poor. Jesus said that the poor are blessed with the kingdom of heaven (Luke 6:20). The Apostle James said that God has chosen to make the poor rich in faith (James 2:5). God has chosen to show his power by using the poor and weak of the world (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). The church has many reasons for making special effort to evangelize the poor. One reason is that the gospel spreads more rapidly among the poor.

Jesus’ description of his ministry shows that he expected to change earthly conditions also.

► A student should read Micah 6:6-8 for the group. What question was the prophet asking?

The prophet Micah considered the question of what God really wants from his worshippers. Some people asked if herds of cattle would be enough of a sacrifice, or even child sacrifice. Micah explained that it’s not a matter of finding a sacrifice that is great enough to be worthy of God. God has revealed his requirements. We are responsible to do justice and to help others receive justice.

Kindness does not refer only to the kind use of authority. Kindness also refers to relief of needs. Jesus said that the Samaritan was an example of the love God commands because he showed mercy and compassion. He responded to the needs he saw (Luke 10:33-34). Sometimes churches think they should focus only on spiritual needs. They think they are not responsible for issues of poverty. However, the Bible mentions the poor about 400 times. The problems of the poor are a concern to God. Like the Good Samaritan, churches should show love to those who need help.

► A student should read Ezekiel 16:49-50 for the group. What sin of Sodom do these verses mention?

The city of Sodom is remembered for the sin of sexual perversion; but the wickedness of the city was not that alone. The people of Sodom used their prosperity to provide leisure for themselves and did not aid the poor and needy.

When a church has responsibility for a certain neighborhood, that area is called the church’s parish. Historically, large church organizations have expected each local church to serve a specific geographical area. This is a custom of the Roman Catholic Church in many parts of the world, the Lutheran Church in Germany, and the Church of England in Great Britain. Most Protestant denominations do not have parishes in the same sense.

Imagine what it would be like for a church to consider itself the church for its community. Everyone in the parish would know who the pastor was and that he was available to pray, encourage, and counsel, whether they attended his church or not. When he visited among the community, his primary goal would not be persuading them to attend church. Instead, he would be taking the ministry of the church to them.

The church would provide ministries that respond to the needs of the neighborhood, such as family counseling, youth mentoring, and character-based job training. These are not unrelated to the purpose of the church. They are areas where biblical answers are crucial, and the church should be sharing the wisdom of God’s Word in practical areas. It is easy to point out things that are wrong in society, but the church must describe what society should be.

► What are needs in your neighborhood that could be changed by God’s Word?

Old Testament prophets saw the land and people as belonging to God, and called everyone to keep God’s covenant. They preached about the blessings that came to the community when it followed God’s plan and about the curses that came from disobedience.

[1]The pastor should view his community as his parish under God. God is the Landlord and Ruler who offers to bless people if they will live by his plan. The pastor should continually call the people of the community to live under God’s direction. He should explain what it means to live with the blessings of God and encourage them to come into relationship with God.

The parish concept doesn’t mean that everyone in the neighborhood is a member of the church. The church includes only those who are committed to living in relationship with God, but the community is influenced by the church.

The parish concept doesn’t mean that the neighborhood controls the church and sets its values. The church is commissioned by God, follows his Word, and advocates the kingship of God to the neighborhood.

Because the church is called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14), the church is called to make a difference in its neighborhood.

Many ministries offer programs that respond to the material needs of people in the neighborhood. They serve the needs of the community and think that helping people in practical ways will make friends and get attention for the gospel. Their goal is to create opportunities to share the gospel. They want to show that they care.

Their formula is: Program, then Relationship, then Gospel. However, there are many ways for programs of help to go wrong. Help may not create any relationship except the giver/recipient relationship.

Sometimes the gospel seems separate from the things being given, and people can get help without being interested in the gospel. People working in the program may become busy at providing help and not share the gospel. Recipients may take as much as they can, then leave to look for help from others.

The formula should be turned around. The church should emphasize the gospel as its first contact with everyone.

► What is the gospel?

When a church presents the gospel to the world, they must be faithful to include a description of a new life in the church. Salvation is not a personal decision that leaves a person alone in a strange, new life. Sinners will not usually accept the gospel unless they are attracted to the community of faith that presents the gospel.

In the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, we see that the gospel is the good news of the kingdom of God. It is the message that the sinner can be forgiven and come into relationship with God. He is delivered from the power of sin and made into a new creature. He enters the family of faith, where his spiritual brothers and sisters encourage him and help him with his needs.

The church should see its primary mission to be communicating the gospel. Everyone should know that working for the salvation of souls is what the church is about. Then, the church attracts people who are interested in the gospel. The ministry of the gospel creates a relationship.

Then the church helps people that are in relationship with the church. Maybe not all of those people are saved yet, but they are attracted by the gospel ministry of the church.

So, the reversed formula is Gospel, then Relationship, then Help (not a program). The church should not be just an organization offering programs for help. Instead, the church is a group of people that helps people who are in relationship with them. If they start programs, people will come for the programs without the relationship.

1. An effective church causes changes in its neighborhood.

2. We must show our love for neighbors by responding to needs.

3. The church must minister to the poor to fulfill its mission.

4. The church should minister to the people in its geographical area.

5. The church should describe and demonstrate what society should be.

6. Gospel ministry is the first priority of the church.

7. The church should help people in the context of relationship.

1. Memorize the Seven Summary Statements for Lesson 7. Write one paragraph explaining the meaning and importance of each of the Seven Summary Statements (seven paragraphs) to someone who is not in this class. Turn this in to the class leader before the next class. Be ready to share a paragraph with the group if the class leader asks you to during discussion time. Write the statements from memory at the beginning of the next class session.

2. Remember to schedule your own outside-of-class teaching opportunities and report to the class leader when you have taught.

3. Interview Assignment: Talk to several people who do not attend church. Ask them to describe the influence of the church in the neighborhood. Write a summary.